Australia captain Pat Cummins had no hesitation in terming Glenn Maxwell’s stunning double century as the greatest in ODI cricket history. Cummins expressed his awe and gratitude for being present in the middle to witness this extraordinary knock of 201 not out, which steered them to a thrilling victory over Afghanistan at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Maxwell’s innings will be remembered as one of the finest. He rescued Australia from a precarious 91 for 7 to chase down 292 and secure their spot in the semi-finals. Cummins, who partnered Maxwell in the 202-run stand, could only contribute 12 runs off 68 balls while witnessing the remarkable display from the best seat in the stadium.
“I can’t find words to describe it,” Cummins exclaimed after the triumph. “What a win! It has to be the greatest moment in cricket history. People will recall this game for a long time. Glenn was exceptional. He remained composed and always had a strategy. To win a game like this from being 200 runs behind is truly special. It emphasizes that you can win from any situation. We have a strong belief in our team, and now we’re in the semi-finals, which is fantastic.”
On the other hand, Afghanistan’s captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, couldn’t believe the turn of events. With Australia in trouble, Afghanistan seemed on the verge of a crucial victory, but then Maxwell unleashed his brilliance. Although Maxwell gave some chances, Afghanistan couldn’t capitalize on them. Despite the defeat, Shahidi praised Ibrahim Zadran, who scored a magnificent 129 not out and became the first Afghanistan player to achieve this milestone in the World Cup.
“We’re very disappointed. Cricket can be quite unpredictable; it was a rollercoaster for us,” said Shahidi. “We had control, our bowlers began well, but those missed opportunities cost us. After that, Maxwell just didn’t stop, displaying an array of shots, and I must credit him for that. The crucial turning point was the dropped catches. Following that, Maxwell’s performance was remarkable.”
He said they will try their best to bounce back. “We’re proud of our team, but we’ll be upset tonight. But it’s all part of the game. That’s cricket. We’ll aim to rebound strongly against South Africa. Ibrahim Zadran should take pride in himself, and I’m equally proud that he is the first Afghan to score a century in the World Cup.”
Australia have secured a spot in the semi-finals with this victory, while Afghanistan still has a chance. If they defeat South Africa and other results go in their favor, Afghanistan could still make it to the semi-finals.